Combined mirror and instrument



Oct. 25, 1932. L NY 1 ,884,756

COMBINED MIRROR AND INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct.25, 1932. w. LA HODNY COMBINED MIRROR AND INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 21, 1929dub mugs Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM LAHODNY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD MIRROR COMPANY, INC.,OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK COMBINED MIRROR ANDINSTRUMENT Application filed November 21, 1929.

This invention relates to a combined mirror and instrument and as shownis embodied ina rear view mirror having associated therewith a watch orclock although any instrument can be substituted for the watch or clock,such as a barometer, a compass, a thermometer, an oil viscosity gage, orany other kind of instrument to which frequent reference is made. Theinvention is also appliif} cable to other forms of mirrors for other5*November 18, 1929 and Ser. No. 408,965, filed November 26, 1929.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a singlemirror having a watch, clock or other instrument associated therewith inwhich the clock or watch is securely mounted and held directly by thebracket which also supports the mirror. By this means the watch orclock, particularly when mounted in an automobile, is not sub- 5 ject tosevere vibration.

A further object is to provide such a combined mirror and instrument inwhich the instrument is mounted for universal move ment with respect tothe bracket so that it .5 can be moved to any convenient position forobserving the same or to illuminate the face of the instrument from anysource of light within or outside of the car.

Another object is to provide such a de- 35 7 vice in which the watch orclock; while sup ported from the bracket, can be observed through atransparency provided in the mirror by removing or eliminating thereflective coating on a portion of the mirror so 40 that the mirrorplate itself forms a crystal for the watch or clock. By this means thewatch or clock is firmly held against vibration, the combined mirror andwatch or clock are in their most compact form, the

4 face of the watch or clock is clearly visible and the rear view mirrorpossesses its complete strength so that it is not liable to break orcrack as would be the case if an opening of the size required were cutthrough the glass plate. This construction also reduces Serial No.408,755.

the danger of dust and dirt, filtering through into the movement.

Another object is to provide such an assembly in which thediiferentparts are comparatively theft-proof by the arrangement of themountings in such manner that the method of dismantling the same isnotinstantly obvious to one who might wish to steal parts thereof.

Another aim is to provide a reliable, simple and inexpensive mountingboth for the mirror and for the instrument which also permits theinstrument to be readily removed for the purposes of repair oradjustment.

Other purposes are to provide a combined rear view mirror and instrumentwhich isinexpensive to form and assemble, which'is neat and attractivein appearance, which, particularly when viewed from the rear side of thesame, presents no unsightly mechanical devices and in which theinstrument is readily accessible for resetting, rewinding or the like.

In the accompanying drawings: I v

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a combined rear view, mirror and watchembodying one form of my invention.

Fig. '2 is a section taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of myinvention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line 4-4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Figs. 1 and 3 showing a furthermodified form of my invention. I

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 66, Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 1, 3 and 5 showing a still furthermodified form of my invention.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on 8-8, Fig. 7.

Similar reference numerals refer to like parts in each of the severalviews.

In its general organization this invention comprises a rear view mirrorwhich is mounted for universal movement upon its support ing bracket anda watch or clock which is also carried directly by the bracket and isline also mounted for universal movement. In one form of the inventlonthe mlrror is provided with a transparency and the watch or clock isheld against this transparency or crystal by the bracket so that it'ismovable movement thereon independently of the rear view mirror. I

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 both the mirror andthe watch or clock which can be either ofthe back wind or stem windtype, are carried'by a bracket 10 having holes 11 by which the bracketis secured to the'head bar (not shown) or other suitablepart ofanautomobile. At its lower end the bracket arm 10 carries a stem 12 whichis formed to provide a ball 18. The mirror plate 14 is shown asgenerally of rectangularforin and provided with an upwardly extendedandsuitably'rounded part 15. This mirror is provided on its rear face orside with a reflective coating 16. This reflective coating can be theusual'metallic silver deposit or can be any one of a largefn'umber ofreflective coatings which also absorb a part of the light reflected intothem so that the mirror reflects the image with reduced illumination butwithout'distortion and a:non

.height and width of the lower rectangular portion of the mirror plateand is'formed at its uppersides to provide two fingers v18 which extendforwardlyand are adapted to engage or embrace the upper margin or bevelof the rectangular part of the mirror plate. To clamp and hold themirror plate against these fingers 18 the supporting plate '17 is formedto providea rearwardly extending cup-shapedpart 19. At the lower end ofthe cup-shaped part 19 a clamping member 20 is screwed by means of ascrew 21. This clamping member 20 is formed to providea finger 22 whichengages the lower bevel of the mirror plate '14 and vertical partswhichrest against and are adapted to slide along the rear side of the plate17 and the cupshaped part 19. It is apparent that when the screw 21 istightened it draws the clamping member 20 upwardly and draws the mirrorplate 1 1 into firm engagement with the finger 22 and the fingers 18.

The cup-shaped part 19 of the metal mirror holder or plate 17 isprovided with a central opening and the margin of this opening is formedto provide a socket 23. This socket receives the ball 13, the stem 12extending through the opening. To yieldingly and frictionally hold theball 13 in engagement with the socket 23 a plate 24 is arranged in thecup-shaped part'19' of the metal mirror ed by the vibration of the car.

.a transparency 27 i'svprovided.

holder and is formed to provide a socket 25 which engages the oppositeside of the ball 13. The ball '13 is frictionally clamped between thesockets 25 and 23 by a series of screws 26 which are adapted to draw theplate 24 toward the rear wall of the cup-shaped part 19." By thismeansupon grasping the mirror 14: it can be moved to any desiredposition about the ball 13 and by reason of its frictional connection"therewith is held in such adjusted position without being affect- In theupwardly extended part 15 of the mirror plate This transparency isprovided either by scraping a portion of the metallic deposit from therear side of the glassplate or by covering that part with some substanceon which the silver or other reflective coating will not deposit. Aroundthis transparency or transparent opening 27 a groove 28 is shown asground into the rear side of the glass plate and in this groove the rimof an instrument case 29 is set. This instrument case 29 houses theworking parts of the instrument and the dial 30, hands 31 or otherindicating parts of the instrument are visible through the transparencyor crystal 27. In order to hold the instrument case 29 firmly andreliably in proper position in the groove 28 the metal mirror supportingplate 17 is formed to provide a rearwardly and upwardly extendedL-shaped arm 32 which is arranged in rear of the transparency or crystal27 and in rear of the in strument case 29. This arm 32 carries a screw33 which, upon being-tightened, bears against the rear wall of theinstrument case 29 and holds it firmly against the glass plate andinproper position in the groove 28. It is apparent that withthisconstruction the watch, clock or other instrument is firmly held againstthe mirror plate and. by reason of being supported directly from thebracket 10 is not subject to intense vibration which would, of course,injure the movement or other working parts thereof. I In Figs. 8 and 1is illustrated a modified form of the invention in which the instrumentis supported independently of the rear viewinirror and both are capableof being adjusted to any position by universal mounting. In this formboth the mirror and the instrument are supported by the bracket 10, asin the first form and the mirror 14- which is shown as of regularrectangular form can be supported for universal movement relative to thebracket 1.0 by the same form of ball and socket support shown assupporting the mirror plate in Figs. 1 and 2. The watch or clock in thisform can be either of the rim wind, stem wind of back wind type.

Theupper partof the bracket 10 carries a forwardly projecting stem 35which is formed to provide a ball 36 at its front end. The inbody 37which is open at its front and provided with a wall 38 and an annularoutwardly extending flange 39 at its rear end. To the annular flange 39is suitably secured the rim of a cup-shaped part 40, this cupshaped partbeing provided with a central opening and the margin of said opening being formed to provide a socket 41 which fits against the rear side ofthe ball 36, the stem projecting through said opening. To hold the ball36 in reliable frictional engagement with the socket 41 a plate 42 isarranged in the cup-shaped part 40, this plate being formed to provide asocket 43 which engages the front side of the ball 36. Screws 44 connectthe plate 42 and the cup-shaped part so that upon tightening thescrewsthe plate 42 is drawn into firm engagement with the ball 36 andany desired frictional engagement provided between the ball 36 and thesocket 41. By this means by grasping the clock or watch case 37 andmoving it into any desired position it will retain its adjusted positionunder any normal vibration to which it may be subjected. The bezel 45 isshown as being octagonal in form, although it is apparent that mydesired artistic configuration can be employed and in this bezel is seta crystal 46 through which the face and hands 30 and 31 of the watch orclock can be observed. In order to securely hold the bezel 45 in thecase 37, the bezel is provided with i rearwardly extending collar orstem 47 which fits into the watch or instrument case 37 and is held inplace by set screws 48. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5and 6 the instrument case is of substantially the same form as thatshown in Figs. 3 and 4 and is shown as supported for universal movementon the bracket 10 in the same manner. The rear view mirror 14 can alsobe of rectangular form and supported for universal movement relative toits supporting bracket 10 by the same means shown in Figs. 1-4. Thecrystal 50 for the watch or clock is, however, shown as being formed aspart of a glass plate 51 which has the same form as the bezel 45 andcompletely covers the front face of this bezel. This glass plate 51 issecured to the bezel 45 by a pair of screws 52 which extend throughopenings provided in the glass plate 51 and screws into the bezel 45.The rear face of this glass plate 51 is pro vided with a reflectivecoating 53 of silver or the like, this reflective coating forming amargin or frame for the crystal 50. As in the case of the form of theinvention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the crystal 50 can be provided eitherby scraping a portion of the reflective coating from the rear face ofthe plate 51 after it has been deposited or the deposit of thereflective coating upon that portion of the glass plate 51 which isdesired to form the crystal 50 can be prevented by any well known andusual method.

Inthe'form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 andS the mirror 14 is shownas rectangular. in form and is provided at one end with a transparency27 and groove 28, asin the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1- and2. In this form of the invention the mirror 14 is clamped to a metalbacking plate 17, and as in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1and 2 this plate is mounted for universal movement upon the ball 13 ofthe bracket 10 and held in frictional engagement therewith by the plate24.

instead of providing the L-shaped arm for supporting the instrument case29 in the groove 28, however, the plate 17 is formed to provide a'second cup'shaped part 55 which is-arranged to embrace and completelysurround'the instrument case 29. The rim 56 of this cup-shapedpart 55engages the rear side of the rear view mirror 14 'on all sides and thiscup-shaped part 55 thereby provides an additional safeguard against theentrance of dust and" dirt into the movement contained within the watchcase 29. I11 order to reliably hold the watch case 29 in its groove 28and also to permit of compensation in the varying thicknesses of glassused in making rear view mirrors a screw 57 is provided in rear of thecup-shaped part 55 this screw 57 bearing against the rear wall of thewatch or clock case 29 and holding it in firm engagement with the mirrorplate 14.

All of the several forms of this invention provide a compact, attractiveand inexpensive combined rearview mirror and watch, clock or otherinstrument in which the instrument is in part supported directly fromthe supporting bracket independently of the rear view mirror. By thisdirect support of the instrument the instrument is held against unduevibration and consequently is less liable to injury therefrom. Thecombined mirror and instrument shown is also comparatively simple inconstruction, will stand up for a long time under the severe andconstant vibration to which accessories of this character are subjected,both the instrument and the mirror are in all forms capable of universalmovement to any desired position relative to the bracket and both theinstrument and the rear view mirror can be conveniently removed when itis necessary for the purpose of repairs. The parts of the assembly arealso comparatively theft-proof, the manner of supporting the parts notbeing instantly obvious to one who might try to remove parts.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a panel and a sup port for said panel. aninstrument case arranged in rear of said panel, whereby an instrumentarranged in said instrument case is visible through said panel, andmeans for holding said instrument case against the corresponding face ofsaid panel comprising an arm extending outwardly from said support and ascrew having threaded engagement with and extending through said arm andbearing against a side of said instrument case to hold said instrumentcase with adjustable pressure against the corresponding face of saidpanel.

2. In combination with a panel having an" indentation in its rear faceand a support for panel, anarni'extending outwardly from said support,an instrumentcase interposed between said arm and panel and ointlysupported thereby, a screw carried by said arm and bearing against saidinstrument case to adjustably force it into engagement with said panel,said instrument case being provided with a projection extendinginto saidindentation in s'aidpanel, whereby an instrument arranged in' saidinstrument case is visible through said panel.

In testimony whereof I hereby alfix my signature.

WILLIAM LA HODNY.

